What does proper protein intake look like?
The simple answer is about 1.5-2.2g per kg in body weight a day
This RDA is taking into consideration the balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fats; all necessary factors in ensuring optimal mental and physical function.
The FDA reports that sufficient protein intake is 0.8g per kg of body weight per day. They also state that as little as 0.66g per kg per day is enough to prevent deficiencies. However, outside of the U.S., it is widely recognized that children in second and third-world countries suffering from malnutrition often experience significantly higher rates of mental disorders, stunted growth, and developmental issues. Now, here’s something interesting: the average protein intake in these countries is about 0.9g per kg per day. So why is the FDA telling us that less than this amount is sufficient? Does this sound like an organization truly prioritizing your health? Or could they be manipulating the data to align with their idea of the “Standard American Diet” — a diet that has arguably led to a national crisis of chronic deficiencies, illness, disease, cancer, and more?
Research shows that consuming protein levels higher than the RDA has numerous benefits, including significant increases in lean muscle mass, improved mental and physical function, and enhanced absorption of amino acids across all age groups. In contrast, studies also show that individuals supplementing with amino acids and certain carbohydrates experienced reduced muscle loss and better lean mass retention even while on bed rest. Clearly, our bodies thrive with adequate protein intake.
Our physiological functions rely on amino acids (the building blocks of protein) to maintain balance, or homeostasis. Your body doesn’t absorb protein as a whole; instead, it breaks it down into amino acid chains, which are then used for vital processes throughout the body. If your body doesn’t get enough amino acids, the consequences can include inflammation, dis-ease, or acute issues such as insomnia, eczema, psoriasis, or digestive problems like leaky gut. If these problems aren’t addressed, they can progress into chronic conditions that disrupt daily life and, over time, evolve into disease. And we all know what disease can lead to if left unchecked…
The progression is simple yet devastating: discomfort turns into disability, disability turns into disease, and disease can eventually lead to death. All this from a system that seems designed not to educate and empower but to keep the statistics “relative” and normalize what shouldn’t be normal. Does this sound like a natural part of life? I don’t think so.
Consider this: the average lifespan in America is 79 years for women and 73 years for men. These numbers have been steadily declining since 2019. According to the CDC, the majority of these deaths are attributed to COVID-19 and drug overdoses. But wouldn’t their statistics paint a different picture if proper nutrition guidelines were actually accurate? If they truly reflected the state of chronic deficiencies and malnutrition, they’d reveal just how many people are suffering unnecessarily. Instead, it’s easier to point fingers at external factors, like a virus or substance use, that can simultaneously be monetized.
By focusing on things outside their control, they avoid addressing something entirely within their control: educating people on how to properly nourish themselves to prevent illness. Because let’s be real — if we were healthier and less reliant on the system, we wouldn’t need prescriptions, major surgeries, chemotherapy, vaccines, or other “healthcare” interventions. And without that dependence, big pharma’s profits would take a hit.
It’s worth asking: are they really invested in your well-being, or are they invested in keeping you reliant on them?
I do not share this information to scare you! I share it purely for education purposes and to empower each person I have the opportunity to reach to take their control back. Control that has been lost, misguided, and swept under the rug by fear mongering, mis-information, and manipulation tactics.